Select the word from the given options that is most similar to the meaning of the underlined word.
We face the arduous days that lie before us in the warm courage of national unity.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → difficult
Arduous means very hard and needing great effort. The speaker calls the days ahead arduous: hard days that will need courage and national unity. Its synonym is difficult.
Example: Climbing to the hill temple was an arduous journey.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) promising | showing signs of future success (it says nothing about hardship or effort) | She is a promising young athlete. |
| (2) hopeful | feeling or giving hope (it describes a mood, not how hard something is) | The doctors are hopeful about his recovery. |
| (3) difficult (answer) | hard to do or to deal with (both words describe what is hard, and arduous is the stronger word) | The last question in the paper was very difficult. |
| (4) smooth | used of a task or journey, easy and free from problems (it is nearly the opposite of arduous) | The new highway made the journey smooth. |
| Synonyms of arduous: difficult, strenuous, laborious, gruelling Antonyms of arduous: easy, effortless, simple, light Also asked in CUET (UG): arduous – 27-05-2025 Slot 1, 23-05-2025 Slot 2, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 29-05-2024 Slot 1, 18-08-2022 Slot 1 |